Tauranga City Council has today unanimously opposed the establishment of a separate Maori seat onto the council.
Mayor Stuart Crobsy recommended that no Maori ward be established for the 2016 election.
Mr Crosby said a Maori ward at this time would damage the relationship between Maori and non-Maori in Tauranga.
He said Maori were going through a renaissance with their history and a Maori ward would be a big step backwards. The time for the debarte could be the proposed local government re-organisation in the Bay of Plenty.
Let's stick to one person, one vote, no matter who they are.